Editing Needle-based weaponry

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:H2A-JohnNeedlers.jpg|thumb|350px|[[John-117]] [[dual wielding]] [[Type-33 needler]]s, the most common needle weaponry in the Covenant.]]
'''Needle weaponry''', or '''needle-based weaponry''',{{Ref/Book|Id=evg128|EVG|Page=128}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=230}} refers to [[:Category:Projectile weapons|projectile weapons]] that launch explosive [[Suban]]ese [[Subanese crystal|crystalline]] shards to do damage to a target. While the [[Forerunner]]s have developed at least [[shard cannon|one class of needle weapon]], the [[Covenant]] most likely reverse-engineered the technology,{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=237}} leading to its widespread use in the Covenant and [[Covenant remnants|its remnants]], particularly among their specialized infantry and vehicles.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22p294|Enc22|Page=294}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=289}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=277}}

==Operation==
Needle weapons are characterized by their ammunition: the pink crystal substance mined from Suban, one of from the [[Sangheilios]]' two [[moon]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p294}} Upon impaling a target, the shards become chemically reactive, and detonate after a few seconds.{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22p479|Enc22|Page=479}} If multiple shards make contact, then a chain reaction occurs—their chemical properties supercombine and the shards detonate simultaneously, causing an immediate and violent explosion.{{Ref/Reuse|evg128}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p479}} While the shards are devastating against living tissue, they are are relatively ineffective against energy shielding.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/needler|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page= Universe - Weapons - Needler|D=21|M=04|Y=2021}}

Covenant needle weapons break the crystals into needle-like shards, then launch the shards from the weapon. The [[needler]], the most popular class of needle weaponry, contains an additional magnetic auger within the weapon that catalyzes the shards, which then become capable of tracking targeted heat signatures.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p294}} In contrast, the {{Pattern|Gadulo|needle rifle}} was not designed to charge its needles with the ability to home in on a living target,{{Ref/Book|EVG|Page=127}} so it likely lacks a magnetic auger. Instead, when fired, the crystalline shards snap off into individual charged projectiles which are launched linearly at the intended target.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/needle-rifle|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page= Universe - Weapons - Needle Rifle|D=14|M=05|Y=2021}} 

==List of needle weapons==
===Handheld weapons===
*''[[Blood of Suban]]'' variant of the {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}}
*[[Needler]]
**{{Pattern|Posu'gelka|needler}}
**{{Pattern|Nahle'hax|needler}}
**[[Type-33 needler]]
**[[Type-56D needler]]
*[[Gadulo-pattern needle rifle]]

===Mounted weapons===
*[[Heavy needle cannon]]
*[[M49 Vulcan#Variants|Modified M49 Vulcan]]
*[[Needle cannon]]
*[[Shard cannon]]
*[[Shardstorm launcher]]

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Projectile weapons]]